Method of advancing a plurality of longitudinally arranged movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner and apparatus for performing same

Abstract

A method of advancing a plurality of longitudinally arranged movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner, wherein a plurality of prefabricated constructional units for construction of an underground structure of a form adapted for a special purpose such as tunnel excavation, heavy load transportation, underwater tunnel installation or muddy water dredging excavation are arranged along a common longitudinal line adjacent to each other and are provided with a forward advancement impelling mechanism, said mechanism comprising propulsion means positioned between the successive constructional units, a linking member extending over the entire length of the combined constructional units, impelling means and anchoring means arranged at respective certain locations on said linking member, and further with the necessary engineering facilities according to the employed purpose for construction, said method comprising actuating the first propulsion means to advance the forwardmost constructional unit through the length of one stroke, releasing the first propulsion means, actuating the other propulsion means successively to advance the intermediate and tailing constructional units successively each through the length of one stroke toward the advanced forwardmost constructional unit while utilizing the reaction forces of the other stationary constructional units which are summed up by the linking and anchoring means, and repeating such a procedure of the steps constituting one cycle a number of times until the constructional units arrive at a desired site of installation. An apparatus for performing the above-described advancing method comprising propulsion means positioned between the said successive constructional units, a linking member serving the advancement of said units and arranged to pass from the forwardmost to the tailing constructional unit therethrough, anchoring members mounted at respective certain location of said linking member, and a set of equipments necessary for the supplemental engineering purpose.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of advancing a plurality of longitudinally aligned movable constructional units successively in a self-running manner, wherein said constructional units constituting an underground structure of a form adapted for a special purpose such as tunnel excavation, heavy load transportation, underwater tunnel construction or muddy water dredging excavation are arranged along a common longitudinal line adjacent to each other and are provided with a self-run forward advancement impelling mechanism, said mechanism comprising propulsion means each positioned between adjacent said constructional units, a linking member extending over the entire length of said constructional unit group, traction means positioned in front of the forwardmost constructional unit for forward advancement thereof and connected to said linking member, and anchorage members arranged for selective contact with the respective intermediate and tailing ones of said constructional units and mounted on and selectively engageable with said linking member, said method comprising actuating the first one of said propulsion means positioned between the forwardmost and next ones of said constructional units while releasing said traction means and all the said anchorage members from engagement with said linking member to advance said forwardmost constructional unit relative to said next constructional unit and to the ground, releasing said first propulsion means, bracing said linking member to said next constructional unit through the one of said anchorage members arranged for selective engagement therewith, actuating said traction means and the second one of said propulsion means positioned between the second and third ones of said constructional units counting from the front to advance said next constructional unit relative to the ground, advancing the other ones of said intermediate constructional units individually subsequently in a manner similar to that described above relative to the ground, bracing said linking member to said tailing constructional unit through the one of said anchorage members arranged for selective contact therewith, actuating said traction means to advance said tailing constructional unit relative to the ground through said linking member, and repeating the procedure consisting of the above-described steps a necessary number of times. 
     
     
       2. A method of advancing a plurality of longitudinally aligned movable constructional units successively in a self-running manner by the use of the self-run forward advancement impelling mechanism of claim 1 of a modififcation such that instead of using an anchorage member as arranged behind the rear face of said tailing constructional unit for bracing engagement therewith, said advancing means is used as arranged for cooperation with said linking member, and instead of using said traction means as arranged before the front face of said forwardmost constructional unit for cooperation with said linking member, an anchorage member is used as arranged thereat, said method comprising actuating the first one of said propulsion means positioned between the forwardmost and next ones of said constructional units while releasing said advancing means to advance said forwardmost constructional unit relative to said next constructional unit and to the ground, releasing said first propulsion means, bracing said linking member between said forwardmost and said tailing constructional units, actuating the second one of said propulsion means positioned between the second and third ones of said constructional units counting from the front to advance said second constructional unit relative to the ground, and finally actuating said advancing means while releasing the last one of said propulsion means to advance said tailing constructional unit relative to the ground through said linking member. 
     
     
       3. A method of advancing a plurality of movable constructional units successively in a self-running manner according to claim 2, wherein between said adjacent constructional units and between the front end of said forwardmost constructional unit and a cutter are positioned respective propulsion members, and a linking member serving as a part of a bracing-and-advancing facility is provided as arranged to pass through a cutter-supporting member and said tailing constructional unit, the other part of said bracing-and-advancing facility being constituted of a propulsion on traction jack mounted at one end of said linking member, the opposite end of which is associated with an anchoring member, thus constituting a self-run advancement impelling mechanism, said method comprising actuating the one of said propulsion member while releasing said bracing-and-advancing facility or said anchoring member to advance said cutter relative to the said forwardmost constructional unit, bracing said cutter to said tailing constructional unit by said bracing-and-advancing facility, actuating the one of said propulsion members between said forwardmost and the next one of said constructional units while releasing said first propulsion member to advance said forwardmost constructional unit relative to the ground, advancing the other intermediate ones of said constructional units individually successively in a manner similar to that described above, and finally advancing said tailing constructional unit relative to the ground by said bracing-and-advancing facility through said linking member. 
     
     
       4. A method of advancing a plurality of movable constructional units successively in a self-running manner according to claim 2, wherein between a divided cutter constructed as slidingly movable around the periphery of a movable support frame and said forwardmost constructional unit, and between the adjacent constructional units are respective propulsion jacks, and a bracing-and-advancing interconnection member passing between said movable support frame and said tailing constructional unit is provided with a bracing-and-advancing facility constituted mainly of a propulsion or traction jack mounted at one end thereof and with an anchoring member mounted at the other end thereof; with this construction, after a joining member is detachably mounted between an impelling member existing in front of a first propulsion jack mounted in front of said forwardmost constructional unit and each divided cutter to establish engagement therewith, by said first propulsion jack, the divided cutter is advanced successively in repeat, after all the cutter has been advanced, each joining member is inserted between said movable support frame and divided cutter to fixedly support the both parts in unison, next the movable support frame and the tailing constructional unit are braced by both the above mentioned bracing-and-advancing facility and the anchoring member, then the propulsion jacks between the successive constructional units are individually subsequently operated to advance the constructional units forwardly in succession beginning with the forwardmost constructional unit, the tailing constructional unit being advanced forwardly by the above mentioned bracing-and-advancing facility through the linking member, then said bracing-and-advancing facility and the engagement between the movable support frame and divided cutter are released, then the first advancing jack is operated to advance a movable support frame provided with a soil-retaining jack, and repeating the above mentioned procedure a necessary number of times. 
     
     
       5. A method of advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 1, wherein a transportation structure unit group as the plurality of constructional units, each transportation structure unit being constituted of a heavy load carriage and advancing means, is provided with a common linking member arranged to pass therethrough and having anchoring members detachably mounted at the respective ends thereof; with this arrangement, the advancing means provided on the forwardmost transportation structure unit is operated to advance said transportation structure unit forwardly by a distance of transportation of one stroke relative to the ground, then said advancing means is released, then the next transportation structure unit is advanced by operating the advancing means provided thereon, and repeating the above mentioned procedure a number of times to advance the train of the transportation structure units forwardly relative to the ground through a desired distance. 
     
     
       6. A method of advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 2, wherein said plurality of movable constructional units are a plurality of a longitudinally arranged working platform car units which serve also for construction of a railway; between the successive car units and on the forwardmost or tailing car unit are respective hollow core or full core jacks; a plurality of linking members are arranged to pass through all the car units and each is provided with anchoring members mounted at the respective ends thereof, thereby all the car units are releasably interconnected with each other to a train of platform car units; further, on the upper surface of each of the car units is fixedly mounted operation rails; between the adjacent platform car units, are slidably arranged protection sheaths in a manner to correspond to the variation of the splits of their joint sections as they advance individually; on the surface of each of said protection sheaths, are mounted special interconnection rails interconnecting the above mentioned fixedly mounted operation rails, the rear ends of said operation rails fixedly mounted on the tailing platform car unit being slidably engaged through said special interconnection rails to the already laid rails behind it; after two of the rails for construction of a railway previously stored in the chamber of said tailing platform car unit are extracted to be connected with the respective laid rails, the jack between the forwardmost and next platform car units is operated to advance said forwardmost platform car unit by a distance of one stroke by utilizing the summed reaction forces of all the other platform car units while permitting the protection sheath connected to the forwardmost platform car unit and the special interconnection rails mounted thereon to move slidingly on the upper surface of the next platform car unit together with said forwardmost platform car unit, then all the other but the tailing platform car units are advanced individually subsequently each by the distance of one stroke in a manner similar to that shown above while releasing the one of the jacks which has been used to advance the front adjacent platform car unit by utilizing all the reaction forces of the other platform car units which are summed up by the linking members through the anchoring members mounted at the respective ends thereof, then the tailing platform car unit is advanced by operating the jack mounted on the forwardmost or tailing platform car unit after the one of the jacks which has been operated to advance the last but one car unit is released while utilizing the summed reaction forces of the platform car units fixedly interconnected by the linking members and arranged before the tailing pltform car unit; the special interconnection rails connected with the fixedly mounted rails on the tailing platform car unit are moved with their rear ends being moved on the already laid railway in sliding relation thereto and being advanced forwardly while maintaining the communication with the railway; because of the connection of the rail being laid at their rear ends with the laid railway, as the tailing platform car unit advances forwardly, they are entracted from the chamber of said platform car unit and left behind to be laid; then the above mentioned procedure of the steps repeats itself so that all the working platform car units advance in a self-running manner while automatically laying rails to extent the railway. 
     
     
       7. A method of advancing a plurality of movable constructional units successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 1, wherein said plurality of movable constructional units are a plurality of longitudinally arranged tubular constructional units and another plurality of or a single tubular constructional units or unit opposedly disposed with each other along a common longitudinal line and which are to be advanced toward each other; the former plurality of constructional units are provided with forward advancement jacks arranged between the successive constructional units and with a linking member arranged to pass through all the constructional units and having a forward advancement jack and fixing member mounted at the respective ends of the linking member, thereby all the constructional units are organically interconnected; between said constructional unit group and the other constructional unit arranged in opposed relation thereto, is another traction member arranged to longitudinally pass therebetween; said traction member is connected with said constructional unit group by a dismountable fixing member; the traction member and said opposite side constructional unit are organically combined with each other by a traction jack and fixing member provided on said constructional unit; by operating the forward advancement jack between the forwardmost and next units of said constructional unit group while fixing the dismountable fixing member provided on said forwardmost constructional unit and by operating the traction jack provided on the opposite side constructional unit, said forwardmost constructional unit is advanced by propulsion and traction by utilizing the summed reaction forces of all the constructional units but the forwardmost one and of the opposite side constructional unit; such a procedure is repeated to advance said constructional unit group is a self-running manner with application of traction force thereto; and on the other hand, while the fixing members detachably mounted on the individual constructional units of said group are fixed, the traction jack provided on the opposite side constructional unit is operated to move said opposite side constructional unit by utilizing all the reaction forces of the individual constructional units of said group. 
     
     
       8. A method of advancing a plurality of movable constructional units successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 2, wherein instead of said constructional unit arranged as opposed to said constructional unit group, an anchorage is arranged as opposed thereto; said anchorage and said constructional unit group are combined by a traction member so that the anchorage, traction jack, traction member, fixing members and the above mentioned organically self-runningly constituted constructional unit group are organically combined with one another, thereby said constructional unit group is continuously advanced with excavation in such a manner as to apply even traction force to said constructional unit group. 
     
     
       9. A method of advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 2, wherein a plurality of constructional units for construction of a tunnel are arranged along a common longitudinal line on a protrusion station located under water or on land provided with propulsion jacks, linking members, a traction or propulsion jack advancing facility and fixing members arranged to constitute a self-running advancement control mechanism by which said constructional unit group is organically operated; between the adjacent constructional units, are water-proof shielding sleeve means, said adjacent joining sections are provided with split-measuring instruments and vertical and horizontal shift-measuring instruments arranged in cooperation with the propulsion jacks and with the jack advancing facility to permit the remote control from said protrusion station; with this arrangement, the one of the propulsion jacks which is positioned between the forwardmost and next constructional units is operated to advance said forwardmost constructional unit on a previously laid and levelled foundation from said protrusion station into a body of water through a length of one stroke relative to the foundation while utilizing the summed reaction forces of said second and third constructional units, then such a procedure is repeated to advance the second and other constructional units that follow individually subsequently step by step each through the length of one stroke into the water body until said constructional unit group as a whole is advanced by a length equal to the entire length of one constructional unit, then an additional constructional unit provided with propulsion jack is added to the rear end of said tailing constructional unit in end-to-end contacting relation on the protrusion station while said linking member is extended to pass through said additional constructional unit, then the dismountable fixing member or jack advancing facility is displaced from the tailing constructional unit to the additional construction unit along with the provision of a water-proof shielding sleeve means and one set of the above mentioned measuring instruments, then said constructional unit group together with said additional constructional unit is advanced in a manner similar to that described above, whereby said constructional unit group is successively extended to a predetermined length while advancing on the foundation in a self-running manner under the remote control from the land and permitting the entrance of water into the interior of the constructional unit group, and then a tunnel structure extended into water and having a predetermined length is advanced infinitely to a desired site of installation. 
     
     
       10. A method of advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 9, wherein, there are provided a water-tight pressure device mounted in the front portion of the forwardmost constructional unit to maintain the interior of the constructional unit group in a non-water state despite of the fact that it is submerged, and a ballast compartment containing ballast, a part of which may be water, and which counteracts the buoyancy effect of the water to prevent the floating-up of the constructional unit group as it is in the body of water; with this arrangement, the first propulsion jack is operated to advance the forwardmost constructional unit into the water body on a previously laid and levelled foundation through a length of one stroke while utilizing the summed reaction forces of the second and third constructional units, then the above-described procedure is repeated until an underwater tunnel structure of a desired length is installed at a desired site. 
     
     
       11. A method of advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 9, wherein for construction of an underground structure by advancement and excavation in a water-pressure acting ground, a plurality of constructional units are arranged along a common longitudinal line to be movable in one direction; between the successive constructional units, are respective propulsion jacks, and there is provided a linking member arranged to pass through all the constructional units and having a fixing member mounted at one end thereof, the opposite end of which is associated with a jack advancing facility, thereby all the constructional units are interconnected; with this arrangement, a compressed air chamber for the work provided at the front end of the forwardmost constructional unit, a compressed air buffering chamber located in the rear thereof, and a compressed air producing chamber located adjacent thereto are put in order and distributed in a minimum area to correlate the functions of these three chambers with each other in such a manner that a compressed air produced in the compressed air producing chamber is applied to the compressed air buffering chamber in which the air pressure adjustment is performed to maintain the air pressure of the compressed air chamber for the work at a constant level relative to the outside atmospheric pressure; while excavating by the cutter blades in the compressed air chamber for the work, the constructional unit group is advanced in a manner similar to that shown in claim 9, whereby the above-described three chambers necessary for production of a compressed air are simultaneously advanced forwardly to infinite as the constructional unit group advanced forwardly to infinite to achieve the advancement and construction of the underground structure directly in the water pressure-acting ground while employing the compressed air excavation technique. 
     
     
       12. A method of advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 2, wherein for construction of an underground structure from the constructional unit group advanced by excavation in a soft sandy ground, a necessary number of constructional units are arranged in one direction in the ground; between the successive constructional units are respective propulsion jacks, and a linking member is arranged to pass through all the constructional units and is provided with a fixing member mounted at one end thereof and with a jack advancing facility mounted at the opposite end thereof, whereby all the constructional units are interconnected, with this arrangement, various equipments necessary for the known excavation technique using water jet are provided in a front portion of the forwardmost constructional unit, and separating means for separating out water from a muddy water boot is provided as arranged in the ones of the constructional unit group which follow the forwardmost constructional unit; after the constructional unit group has been advanced in a self-running manner by one step, the front face of the tunnel is excavated, then a pressure water jet is applied thereto to convert the spoil into a muddy water body which is pumped to the separating means, the water separated from the muddy water body being either recirculated to a water jetting means, or discarded to the outside of the constructional unit group, and the other part of soil being conveyed to the outside of the constructional unit group, and then the constructional unit group is advanced by one step in a manner similar to that described in claim 2, whereby an underground structure is constructed from the constructional unit group advanced directly in the soft sandy ground at a desired site of installation. 
     
     
       13. A method of advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 2, wherein for construction of an underground structure from a constructional unit group advanced by excavation in a hard ground, a plurality of constructional units are arranged along a common longitudinal line to be movable in one direction; between the successive constructional units are respective jacks and a linking member is arranged to pass through all the constructional units and provided with a fixing member mounted at one end thereof and with a jack advancing facility mounted at the opposite end thereof, whereby all the constructional units are interconnected; the necessary ones of the constructional units but the forwardmost one are provided with respective jack support members each carrying a number of jacks mounted therearound and with cutout portions formed in the respective portions of the peripheral walls of the constructional units containing the jack support members and accommodating therein respective support plates connected to the respective jacks to be movable to protrude from and to retract to the cutout portions in sliding relation thereto, so that when the above-described jacks are operated, the ground surface which is in contact with the outer peripheries of the constructional units containing therein the jack support members serve as the support receiving surface subject to the strong force pressure of said movable support plates, whereby the reaction force necessary for the advancement of the forwardmost or tailing constructional unit is created in part by the frictional forces of the other constructional units against the tunnel ground surface and in part by the bracing forces of the above-described movable support plates against the hard ground surfaces of the tunnel, whereby the constructional unit group is advanced by successively operating the jacks provided between the successive constructional units. 
     
     
       14. A method according to claim 2, in which the linking member is shifted backward when an additional constructional unit is added. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units for construction of an underground structure forwardly successively in a self-running manner comprising a plurality of movable underground constructional units arranged longitudinally in one direction, an advancement linking member passing therethrough, an advancement traction device for said linking member mounted at the front surface of the forwardmost constructional unit, anchoring members selectively engageable with said advancement linking member and with the respective intermediate and tailing constructional units, and propulsion means positioned between the adjacent constructional units. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 15, wherein in said advancement device for said constructional unit group, advancing means of said advancement linking member is arranged at the rear surface of the trailing constructional unit, and said anchoring member of said advancement linking member is arranged on the forwardmost constructional unit. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 16, wherein in the advancing device of said constructional unit group, behind a cutter is a plurality of constructional units slidingly engaged with each other, between said cutter and the forwardmost constructional unit is a propulsion device, between said cutter and the rear tailing constructional unit is a brace-and-advancement linking member as passing therethrough, and said brace-and-advancement linking member is provided at the both ends thereof with a bracing-and-advancing equipment constituted of a propulsion jack or traction jack mounted thereon and with a fixing member mounted thereon. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 16, wherein in the advancing device of said constructional units, there are provided a movable support frame having a soil retention jack mounted at the front and a divided cutter assembled in slidable relation around said movable support frame, between said divided cutter and the forwardmost constructional unit is a propulsion jack, between said movable support frame and the tailing constructional unit is arranged a brace-and-advancement linking member as passing therethrough, and between a pushing member contacting with the front end of the propulsion jack before the forwardmost constructional unit and the divided cutter and between said divided cutter and the movable support frame are detachably mounted respective joining members. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 16, wherein a plurality of heavy load carriages provided with advancing means detachably mounted thereon as transportation apparatus units for transporting heavy loads are arranged along a longitudinal line and are provided with a common linking member arranged to pass through the individual transportation apparatus units, and said linking member is provided with fixing members detachably mounted at the respective ends thereof. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 16, wherein a plurality of rail laying operation platform cars as the constructional units are arranged along a longitudinal line, between the successive platform car units and on the forwardmost or tailing platform car unit are respective hollow core or full core jacks, a plurality of linking members each having fixing members mounted at the respective ends thereof are arranged to pass through all the platform car units so that all or some of the individual platform car units are either engaged with or disengaged from each other by free choise, whereby a series of interrelated operations can be performed as they are organically constituted; in order to shield the splits between the successive platform car units which are to be formed when the platform car units are individually advanced relative to the next platform car units, there are provided protecting sheaths connected by hinge structures at the front ends thereof to the rear ends of the respective front ones of the successively paired adjacent platform car units, and having special interconnection rails mounted on the upper surfaces thereof and arranged to interconnect the operation rails fixedly mounted on the adjacent front and rear platform car units, the front ends of said special interconnection rails being connected by hinge structure to the rear ends of the operation rails fixedly mounted on the adjacent front platform car unit, and its entire cross-sectional area has a form such that the special interconnection rails are maintained in sliding engagement with the operation rails on the adjacent rear platform car unit to permit the passage of working tractors thereon, whereby the working tractors can always pass on the operation platform car unit group as the platform car units are advanced individually while shielding the splits thereby formed between the successive platform car units. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 16, wherein a plurality of underground structure constructional units on one side and a plurality of, or a singular number of constructional units or unit are arranged along a common longitudinal line in opposedly disposed relation to each other; the constructional unit group on the one side is constructed in a manner to be capable of performing the above mentioned self-runningly advancing method, and there is provided a traction member arranged to pass between said constructional unit group and said opposite side constructional unit and having fixing members detachably mounted between said traction member and the individual constructional units of said group, that portion of said traction member which passes through the opposite side constructional unit being organically connected to said traction member through a traction member and fixing member mounted at the rear end of said opposite side constructional unit. 
     
     
       22. An apparatus for advancing a pluality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 21, wherein the opposite side one constructional unit is replaced by an anchorage, and between this anchorage and said constructional unit group is arranged a traction member as passing therethrough, the traction member being provided with a traction jack and with dismountable fixing members arranged thereon at respective locations corresponding to those of the individual constructional units, whereby the anchorage, traction jack, traction member and dismountable fixing members are organically, interrelated with each other to constitute a mechanism which is associated with said apparatus. 
     
     
       23. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 22, wherein the constructional unit group is provided with advancing jack means arranged at the front face of the forwardmost constructional unit which faces the anchorage. 
     
     
       24. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 16, wherein there are provided a plurality of underwater structure contructional units, propulsion jacks between the successive constructional units, a linking member passing through the interior or exterior of said constructional units, and jack advancing facility and dismountable fixing members arranged at the respective ends of the linking member, whereby said constructional units are organically interconnected; and there are further provided between the adjacent constructional units respective water-proof protection sleeves having split-measuring instruments and vertical-and-horizontal shift-measuring instruments, and a remote control device located on a protrusion station. 
     
     
       25. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 24, wherein the peripheries of the joint sections between the successive constructional units are covered with respective water-proof protection sleeve devices, the water-proof protection sheets for preventing entrance of soil or water provided on said water-proof protection sleeve devices extend so as to cover the splits formed at said joint sections and are fixedly mounted at the front ends thereof through respective water-proof members on the rear end portions of the front ones of the successively paired adjacent constructional units, the rear ends of said protection sheets overlapping the front portions of the adjacent rear constructional units through water-proof flexible ring members which are brought into water-tightly contacting relation around the entire peripheries of the front portions of the adjacent rear constructional units under the action of outside water pressure, whereby said water-proof protection sheets and water-proof flexible ring members are slidingly moved over the entire peripheries of the front portions of the adjacent rear constructional units, and there are further provided a water-proof device mounted at the front face of the forwardmost constructional unit and various ballast compartments located interior or exterior of the constructional units. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 24, wherein and there are further provided a compressed air chamber for the work arranged at the front end of the forwardmost constructional unit, in the rear thereof is an air pressure buffering chamber having mounted therein an air pressure adjusting equipment for the operator passage and another air pressure adjusting equipment for the spoil passage, and further adjacent thereto is a compressed air producing chamber having mounted therein a compressed air generating machine, the above mentioned three chambers being organically communicated with each other, whereby as the constructional unit group advances forwardly, the three chambers are advanced forwardly in a forced self-running manner. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 24, wherein and there are provided a pressure bulkhead fixedly mounted at a location in the front portion of the forwardmost constructional unit over the entire cross-sectional area thereof, a muddy water chamber formed between said bulkhead and cutter blades in which the excavated soil is converted to a muddy water body, and a set of various means necessary for muddy water jet excavation such as pressure water jetting means, muddy water pumping means and muddy water settling means fixedly mounted behind said bulkhead in the interior of the necessary ones of the constructional units, whereby as the constructional unit group advances forwardly in a self-running manner, these various facilities are advanced forwardly in a passive manner. 
     
     
       28. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units forwardly successively in a self-running manner as described in claim 24, wherein and the necessary ones of the constructional units which follow the forwardmost constructional unit are provided each with a jack-supporting ring having mounted thereon, a number of jacks, with movable support plates arranged in respective cutouts formed in portions of the peripheral walls of the constructional units to be protrusible therefrom and retractable thereto in sliding relation to the internal peripheries of the cutouts so that the support plates in the protruded position are braced against the tunnel surface and with a linking mechanism positioned between the support plates and the jacks of the jack-supporting ring. 
     
     
       29. A method of advancing a plurality of longitudinally aligned movable constructional units successively in a self-running manner, wherein said constructional units constituting an underground structure of a form adapted for a special purpose such as tunnel excavation, heavy load transportation, underwater tunnel construction or muddy water dredging excavation are arranged along a common longitudinal line adjacent to each other and are provided with a self-run forward advancement impelling mechanism, said mechanism comprising propulsion means each positioned between adjacent said constructional units, a linking member extending over the entire length of said constructional unit group, traction means connected to said linking member, and anchorage members arranged for selective contact with said constructional units and mounted on and selectively engageable with said linking member, wherein the method comprises the steps of actuating the first one of said propulsion means positioned between the forwardmost and the next one of said constructional units while releasing said anchorage members for advancing said forwardmost constructional unit relative to said next constructional unit and to the ground, releasing said first propulsion means, bracing said linking member to said constructional unit by means of the respective anchoring member, actuating the second one of said propulsion means positioned between the second and third ones of said constructional units counting from the forwardmost one thereof for advancing the second constructional unit relative to the ground, and advancing the remaining ones of said constructional units individually subsequently in a manner similar to that described above relative to the ground, and repeating the procedure consisting of the above-described steps the number of times necessary for effecting the desired longitudinal movement of the constructional units. 
     
     
       30. An apparatus for advancing a plurality of movable constructional units for construction of an underground structure forwardly successively in a self-running manner comprising a plurality of movable underground constructional units arranged serially longitudinally in one direction, an advancement linking member passing through said constructional units, an advancement traction device associated with said linking member and mounted thereon at one end of said linking member, anchoring members mounted on and selectively engageable with said linking member and arranged to engage at least certain ones of said constructional units, and propulsion means positioned between adjacent said constructional units.